Haverfordwest County 2-1 Llantwit Major: Bluebirds score late to close in on top spot
Haverfordwest County moved to within a point of top spot after Jack Wilson’s late strike consigned Llantwit Major to defeat at The Bridge Meadow.
Ben Fawcett gave the Bluebirds a first-half lead but Harry Davies levelled in the final ten. Youngster Jack Wilson sparked jubilant scenes with a response eight minutes later to secure three vital points.
The Bluebirds were dumped out of the Welsh Cup by Cambrian last week but bounced back with a victory over the Vale of Glamorgan side.
Wayne Jones’ side have lost one league game at home this campaign and continued their fine form in West Wales.
The Bluebirds are a point off of Llanelli Town and Swansea University.
A slow opening period should have allowed both sides to play football in but a nervous home side – who had kept just two clean sheets this season – required skipper Sean Pemberton and Scott Tannock to join Sam Rodon to nullify the visitors’ frontman, Josh Morgan.
Kieran Howard flicked a header into the path of Miles John who fired over from a wide-angle.
Influential frontman Marcus Griffiths saw a premature end to his afternoon as was withdrawn after a calf strain, as he was replaced by the youthful Jack Wilson.
Despite the change in attack confidence grew and the deadlock was broken a minute after Wilson’s introduction. Fawcett was composed and perceptive in thumping the ball into the net.
The visitors came out with some fire in their belly for the second-half. Karl Lewis’ side began to commit players forward.
Howard sparked the second half to life threading a through ball down the middle, Fawcett’s ingress requiring a last-ditch tackle from covering full-back Jamie Miller.
Major began to show signings of getting level. Sean Williams broke the shackles for the Windmillers with a testing header at Stuart’s goal.
Nathan Jones had two chances to equalise, firstly firing across in front of oncoming substitute Harry Davies. The Major winger then outmuscled Sean Pemberton but Stuart commanded his box with confidence.
Harri Rowe came more into the game as it afternoon waned, Daniel Alfei on the opposite side found more space to release Howard whose arching cross grazed the head of a prowling Fawcett.
Major levelled proceedings with ten minutes remaining. Harry Davies finished after a lightning break down the right flank to tie the game.
A ragged home performance did allow an opportunity for Fawcett as he combined with Wilson once again, veteran Tim Hicks coming on for Rowe and in the reshuffle, which saw Pemberton pushed up top.
Josh Morgan had a clear opportunity to lift the three points for the visitors but scuffed his strike wide.
As the Bluebirds threw the kitchen sink at a sturdy Major, Kieran Howard drove the free-kick to the far post for Tim Hicks to flick on to the wily Jack Wilson, anticipating the flick-on to slip his right foot shot beyond an inert Lansdown.
Haverfordwest County manager Wayne Jones said:
“It was a vital home win and left us to work on a few things but I’m delighted with the result.
“I freshened up the side to coincide with a return from injury of Sam Rodon which allowed us to change shape, their experience and physicality allow them to be leaders for our younger players, two of which showed their quality by scoring the goals for us’.
Haverfordwest County: Kyle Stuart: Daniel Alfei, Harri Rowe (Tim Hicks, 82), Sean Pemberton (C), Sam Rodon, Scott Tancock, Kieran Howard, Miles John, Ben Fawcett, Marcus Griffiths (Jack Wilson, 36), Kurtis Rees.
Substitutes (not used) Jake Merry: Osian Williams.
Llantwit Major: Jack Lansdown: Jamie Millar, Kyran Gardner, Jonathan Fletcher (C), Sean Williams, Kristian Evans (Harry Davies 66), Nathan Jones, Jonathan Butler (Michael Hartley; 58), Joshua Morgan, Robert Jones, Ben Cripps, (Lee James: 78).
Substitutes: Barry Whitelam (gk): Lee Jones:
